Last updated September 28, 2026
Who this is for
Anyone whose current hair unit is worn, thinning at the front, or lifting, but is otherwise a good fit worth saving.
What repair actually covers
A hair system is worked hard every day. Heat, sweat, adhesive, washing, and combing all wear on the base and the hair over months of use. Repair is the middle ground between routine maintenance and buying a new unit. You are not replacing the whole system, you are fixing the specific part that failed so the rest of a good unit keeps earning its place.
In our chair we start by looking at the base, the front, the knots, and the overall density, then we tell you honestly whether a repair makes sense or whether you are close enough to the end of the unit's life that a new one is the smarter call. We will not repair something that is past saving just to sell you an appointment.
- Base repair where the material has thinned, split, or torn
- Lace front replacement when the hairline lace wears out or lifts
- Re-ventilation and hair refill to rebuild thin or bald areas
- Knot repair to re-secure hair that has worked loose
Base repair
The base is the foundation the hair is tied into, and it takes the most abuse from adhesive and daily removal. Thin skin bases can split or develop holes at stress points, and lace can fray where it meets a poly perimeter. We reinforce weak areas, close small splits, and rebuild worn sections so the unit holds attachment again without lifting.
Base repair buys real time on a system that still has good hair. If the base is failing in one spot but the hair and density are still strong everywhere else, repairing the base is almost always better value than starting over.
Lace front replacement
The front is where a system does its most important work and where it wears out first. A soft, well bleached lace hairline is what makes a unit disappear, and that same delicacy means the front lace is the first thing to fray, discolour, or thin. When the front goes but the rest of the unit is sound, we remove the worn lace section and set a fresh front onto the existing base.
This is skilled work, because the new front has to match the density, the knotting, and the hairline shape of the original so the repair is invisible once it is cut in. Done well, a lace front replacement gives you back the crisp, natural edge you had when the system was new.
Re-ventilation and hair refill
Every system sheds a little hair over its life, and high friction areas like the crown and the part can thin faster than the rest. Re-ventilation is the craft of hand tying new hair back into the base, knot by knot, to rebuild those thin or bald spots. We match the hair type, the colour, the grey percentage, and the knotting direction so the refilled area blends with what is already there.
Re-ventilation is how a unit that has thinned unevenly gets its density back without a full replacement. It is meticulous, and heavier refills often go to the factory, but for a unit you like it is what keeps the whole system looking consistent rather than uneven.
- Rebuild thin crown and part areas that shed faster
- Match hair type, colour, and grey blend to the existing unit
- Preserve the original hairline density so nothing reads as added
- Close small bald spots before they spread across the base
Knot repair
Individual knots loosen over time, especially after repeated washing and styling, and once hair starts pulling free the shedding accelerates. Knot repair re-secures loose ties and reinforces knots that are working their way out. Caught early, it is a quick fix that stops a small amount of shedding from turning into a thin, sparse area that needs full re-ventilation later.
This is one of the reasons we like to see your unit on a regular rhythm. Small knot and base issues are cheap and fast to fix when they are small. Left alone, they compound into the kind of wear that ends a system before its time.
In studio vs factory turnaround
Some repairs we handle in our chair the same day. Others need the controlled conditions of the factory that built the unit, particularly large re-ventilation jobs or a full lace front rebuild. At your appointment we tell you which route your repair takes and roughly how long you will be without the unit, so you can plan around it.
If you rely on your system every day, this is worth planning for. Many of our clients keep a backup unit precisely so a factory repair never leaves them without hair, and we will talk that through with you if it fits your situation.
| Repair | Where | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Knot repair and minor shedding | In studio | Same appointment |
| Small base repair | In studio | Same appointment |
| Small area re-ventilation | In studio | Same or next appointment |
| Lace front replacement | Factory in most cases | Plan to be without the unit |
| Heavy full re-ventilation | Factory | Plan to be without the unit |
| Full base rebuild | Factory or new unit | Assessed at consultation |
What drives the cost of a repair
Repair is quoted to the specific job, not off a chart, because two units with the same problem can need very different work. We set the figure at your consultation once we have the unit in hand. In general, the biggest cost drivers, ranked, are how much hair has to be re-tied, the type of hair being used, and the complexity of the base being rebuilt.
- Amount of re-ventilation needed, the single largest driver
- Hair length over six inches, which takes longer to tie in
- European hair, which costs more than other origins to match
- A larger base area or a custom base construction to rebuild
- A silk top or specialty front that is more intricate to replace
How to book a repair
Bring your unit in and we will assess it in Peoria or Eighty Four. Nico Rigano, Ivette Rigano, and Denisse Diaz have rebuilt a lot of systems, and we will give you a straight read on whether a repair is worth it or whether you are better served by a fresh unit. If a repair is the right call, we quote it on the spot and book the work. If it is not, we will tell you that too.
Questions, answered.
Is repairing a hair system worth it, or should I just replace it?
It depends on the unit. If the hair and density are still good and only the base or front has worn, a repair gets you real extra life for less than a new system. If the whole unit is near the end of its life, we will tell you a replacement is the smarter call rather than repair something past saving.
Can you rebuild bald or thin spots in my unit?
Yes. That is re-ventilation, where we hand tie new hair back into the base and match the type, colour, and grey blend so the refilled area disappears into the rest of the unit. Small areas we can often do in studio, and heavier refills go to the factory.
How long will I be without my hair system during a repair?
Minor knot and base repairs are usually same appointment, so you leave wearing the unit. Lace front replacement and heavy re-ventilation typically go to the factory, so you will be without the unit for a stretch. We give you the timeline at your assessment so you can plan, and many clients keep a backup unit for exactly this reason.
How is repair different from a maintenance appointment?
Maintenance is the routine reattach, clean, and cut-in that keeps a healthy unit looking right. Repair fixes something that has actually worn out or failed, like a torn base, a frayed front, or thinning knots. They are separate bookings, though we often spot a needed repair during maintenance.
Do you repair a unit I bought somewhere else?
Bring it in and we will assess it. We can repair many units regardless of where they came from, though how much we can do depends on the base and hair quality of the original. We will give you an honest read on whether it is worth repairing before you commit.
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